by Pegaz A
Face flushing a little, Humban nodded firmly and then left the room.
If these tests are successful, the next step is to do the same test while using Memory Manipulation’s Voice skill. His thought process should be similar to mine now that I’ve used the technique on him, but that doesn’t mean he’ll do what I say. I need the Voice skill for that.
Twenty minutes later, Humban returned and reported to John that he’d done as he said. Humban ordered his most loyal soldier and five prisoners to assemble in the back garden where it was quiet and secluded. The king waved for John to follow him and John was guided down a series of halls. No one gave him a second glance. Being in the presence of a king was a free pass to do whatever he wanted.
Soon, the two were standing on a balcony about 40 feet away from the garden. John could see six people standing below them. One was the soldier that Humban trusted the most, donned in silver armour with a golden shield in his left hand and an iron sword strapped to his hip. He stood at the ready over the other five people who John could tell were prisoners. They each knelt on the floor, legs and arms in shackles, tattered clothing, and long messy hair.
Looking at the soldier, John used his Immortal Eye.
???
Rank: 0
Level: 0
Sin: 0
“Have the soldier kill one prisoner then go back to standing where he was.”
Humban nodded then barked orders at the soldier. One of the prisoners tensed up for the last time, a blade cutting cleanly across his throat. As the prisoner bled out on the floor, John looked at the soldier’s sin count with Immortal Eye again.
Sin: 25
John checked Humban and himself afterwards but saw they had gained no sin from the soldier’s actions. The first test was a failure.
“Very good,” John addressed. “Now, have the soldier kill the next prisoner. This time, bribe him with rewards beyond his wildest dreams.”
Eyes sparkling with curiosity, Humban barked another order at the soldier. He promised to fulfil a single wish should the soldier perform well enough. Fuelled by his desire, the soldier did as Humban asked.
Sin: 50
John checked Humban and himself afterwards again. Still no sin, dammit. The second test is a failure, too. Onto the third test, then.
“Humban-Untash Anastasia.” John looked at the King with a somewhat menacing light dancing in his eyes. “How would you like to be immortal?”
Humban paled, eyebrows furled as a look of utmost desire and reverence spilled onto the King’s face.
Good.
“Have the soldier kill a third prisoner.” John cracked a cool smile at the man. “And I’ll consider granting you immortality.”
Humban did as he asked. The soldier took another life, his blade now coated in a dense layer of blood.
Sin: 75
After seeing the soldier’s statistics, John checked Humban with Immortal Eye to see the sin count.
Humban-Untash Anastasia
Rank: 0
Level: 0
Sin: 517
Status: Memory Manipulated
He then checked his own sin count, which had also gained 25 sin points.
John erupted in laughter, causing Humban to jump in fright.
So as long as the person giving the orders is taking my orders with one of the seven sins as the motive, all three people will earn sin points. This is perfect! My plan can proceed to the next step.
John cast a smug look at Humban.
“Next test.”
He used the Memory Manipulation’s Voice skill.
“I will promise you power to destroy all your enemies if you make the soldier kill the next prisoner.”
Humban’s eyes glossed over as he looked at the soldier and commanded him. John watched the events below unfold as another prisoner lost their life. The soldier, Humban, and himself gained 25 sin points.
“Last test.” John used the Memory Manipulation’s Voice again. “Make the soldier kill the last prisoner.”
Humban ordered the soldier and John checked all the sin levels before and after for the last time.
The soldier gained 25 sin points, but Humban and John didn’t.
So even when using the Memory Manipulated skill on the person who is giving the orders to kill, it won’t work. Without the seven sins as the motive, only the person doing the act will gain the sin. So, in order for the next phase of my plan to succeed, I need to offer Humban something else.
Snapping out of his train of thought, John looked over at Humban. The king’s eyes were no longer glossed over.
“We’ve finished the tests,” John said simply. “Pay the soldier. Later tonight, I will extend your life, but it will be painful.”
The king bobbed his head, all sense of composure lost to his desire. John felt he should add something of a disclaimer since he didn’t want the king to get any false pretence about immortality.
“The immortality I mentioned, though, will take a lot of resources because this planet is not suitable for cultivating. And before you ask, I’m from a different world.” John smiled as he placed a hand on the king’s shoulder, firmly clutching it to remind him what he was capable of. “Get your maids to clean up a room for me inside the castle. I’ll be staying for a while. We need to talk about how we will empower your kingdom.”
After speaking, John teleported to the roof of the castle and sat down, taking in the view.
Humban did what John asked and had the maids clean out the biggest guest bedroom inside the castle. The staff was abuzz with rumours and theories, but no one dared to ask who the guest was.
Chapter 34
The Generals
John’s room was over 50 feet in length and width with a 15-foot ceiling. It was an ornate room; every piece of furniture decorated to suit a noble. Each chair, every curtain, every object in the room seemed to be embellished with gold. John was stunned. He’d seen the structure of the room through his Scan, but coming face to face with all the detailing was a whole other level of awe.
John lied down on the soft and comfortable couch which was over 10 feet long. He rested his eyes, making himself at home among the pillows. Humban would come see him tonight. Then, he would force immortality onto the king. John couldn’t help but feel like he was meddling in the affairs of this world a tad too much, but it hardly bothered him.
Later that night, Humban came knocking on his door. It was time.
“Are you ready?” John turned his head to look at Humban as he entered. “The transformation you’re about to undergo is agonising to people who are not used to pain. If you pass out, there is even a risk of death.”
“I know pain,” Humban said breathlessly. “I’m ready.”
“If you say so.” John sat up, somewhat amused. “Before we start, sate my curiosity. What was the soldier’s wish? Were you able to afford his price?”
“The man wanted nobility,” Humban replied. “The man no longer needs to fight for me on the battlefield, only on the political one.”
“Oh, is that all?” John sighed, letting his disappointment show quite plainly. “I hate nobles. Every noble I’ve met or heard about is greedy, lustful, and arrogant. If I ever meet a nobleman that gives his money to charity, helps the poor, and doesn’t molest the maids or beautiful women, then I’ll make him an immortal and take him on as a personal disciple. The odds of that are next to zero, though.”
Humban could only smile at John. It wasn’t a malicious grin, but one of almost humour. John wondered what sort of history this king had with nobles.
“Okay, Your Majesty.” John sat up and strode over to a nearby chair. “Take a seat and strap in. We’re about to begin. Hope what you said about ‘knowing pain’ wasn’t just a bluff.”
Humban nodded and sat down on the chair. John instructed him not to move during the process; he made it very clear that moving so much as a millimetre would kill him. The king did not so much as wince at these words, but John could tell by his clenched fist
s and gritted teeth that he was masking his nerves. John respected that.
The ceremony went on without a hitch. To John’s surprise, Humban didn’t even scream. He held his head high and gritted his teeth through the pain. Like Isake, he didn’t make a single noise.
Is this a trait of the people on this planet? Their pride won’t let them scream in pain?
Half an hour later, Humban stood up from his chair. The king was tired, but also full of new strength. As he was checking out his new power, John was checking him with his Immortal Eye.
Humban-Untash Anastasia
Rank: 1
Level: 1
Sin: 517
Status: Memory Manipulated
“Congratulations, Your Majesty.” John smiled slyly at the king. “You’ve stepped onto the road of immortality. To become stronger and live longer, you will need resources. I can offer you the resources you need should you choose to accept my terms. Take over the continent and follow my every order. Soon, you will know true strength.”
“Thank you.” The king bowed his head. “I will do my best to fulfil any requests you have, and I will personally lead the army to conquer the continent.”
“Very well, then.” John nodded smugly. “Gather the people in charge of your army. I will teach your troops a technique to use with the sword. Then have your men teach this skill to your whole army, and I can almost guarantee your victory.”
“Consider it done.”
Humban stood straight up then hurried out the door
An hour later, Humban came back and reported to John that his generals were waiting on the training grounds. He led John to the designated area, though John already knew where it was. When they arrived, all ten of the generals were standing at the ready. They each wore gold armour, embellished in intricate designs along the rims where each piece connected. John assumed the colour or material of the armour represented their rank in the army; the more intricate the design, the higher up on the chain they were.
What shocked John the most was the clear physical prowess that each of the generals had. They were all taller than John—broader, too. The smallest general stood about 6 feet 5 inches tall, shoulders spanning almost 4 feet in width.
These men have the maximum strength a mortal could ever have, and they’ve received training to enhance their skills. But they’re warriors, not assassins. They will fight head-on rather than using stealth. If I made them immortals, with their fighting style and boorish manner, they would get themselves killed within a few years.
John drew his standard Rank 1 sword and stood before the line of men.
“I will show you a striking technique and a blocking technique.” John’s voice echoed in the courtyard. “The blocking technique will help with any weapon used against you as long as you can react in time. You will then use the striking technique to get through an enemy’s defences before striking a lethal blow. Anyone who doesn’t believe me, feel free to step forward for a demonstration.”
John turned his head left and right. No one showed any signs of wanting to step forward.
It took a few weeks to teach all of the generals and the king himself. They learned the techniques quite fast, but it took time for them to perfect it. By the end of the training period, each could do it instinctively.
All ten generals found both techniques fascinating. There was word of keeping the technique to themselves, then passing it down to individual soldiers who had accomplished something deserving. They presented this idea to their teacher, who furrowed his brows.
“These techniques are for the army to learn,” John explained. “Your king will choose whether or not you need to know my motives. If you keep this technique to yourselves, then I’ll teach ten random people two better techniques and have them take over your positions as generals. Do not take my word lightly.”
One of the generals stepped forward.
“My name is Issac Larson, ranked eighth of the ten generals of Gaening Dynasty.” The man looked John in the eye with nothing but respect. “I wish to know why you taught us these techniques when you have better ones.”
“A question worthy of an answer.” John smiled. “The other techniques need months if not years to master. The first days or weeks of learning could even kill you if you’re not careful, or worse, it could leave you crippled. It could leave you in a state where you are unable to even lift a scrap of food to your mouth. Now, that doesn’t sound very fun, does it?”
The general, now somewhat pale, stepped back into the line. John felt a tinge of satisfaction.
“Any other questions?” Silence. “Good. Now that you’ve learned the techniques from me, go teach it to the army. Dismissed.”
As the men filed out of the training courtyard, John approached Humban. He asked the king to make sure the generals did as he commanded. Should they fail, John reminded Humban that his resources for eternal life were on the line. The king agreed without so much as a flicker of disobedience.
John teleported high in the sky and looked at the world map in the system. Making sure of his intended destination, he then flew south.
A few hours later, he was inside a nicely decorated bedroom with guards stationed outside. When the door opened and a person walked in, John had his threads ready. The doors closed behind the person and John instantly tied him with his threads so he couldn’t scream. John walked out from around the corner of the room and smiled.
“You must be the king of Ucopis Dynasty. I’ve come here because I’ve got a deal for you.”
Chapter 35
A Question
As the threads wrapped around the man’s mouth to stop him from speaking, John used the Memory Manipulation skill. The man clawed at his face, trying to free himself.
“Enough,” John said, a bit annoyed. “I’m not here to kill you, but to offer you a deal. If you promise not to scream, then I’ll let you go so we can have a proper talk.”
The man stopped clawing his face and looked at John. After a moment, he nodded.
John’s threads disappeared, and the man took deep breaths while rubbing his sore mouth.
Taking a step back, John looked at the man properly now. He had cropped hair the same shade of blue as Humban, which surprised him. He stood at about 6 feet tall and had incredibly broad shoulders. Strikingly, his eyes were green, a stark contrast to the blue of his brows.
Is blue hair a royalty thing on this continent?
Turning around, John walked towards a chair and plopped down.
“What’s your name?”
The man stood still and didn’t move at all.
“Augustin Abu Bakr.”
Augustin Abu Bakr
Rank: 0
Level: 0
Sin: 31
Status: Memory Manipulated
“What a name...” John’s eyebrows arched up. “So, Augustin, my deal is to offer you a way to destroy the Gaening Dynasty and make you the ruler of the continent. To prove that I’m sincere with this offer, I’ll help you step onto the road of immortality.”
John gave the man a moment to take in the information. His green eyes showed no sign of intrigue in the least bit. The stony complexion put John a little on edge, but he kept his cool.
“But that road is going to take a lot of resources,” John continued his sales pitch. “I can help with that, but you will need to earn them. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. As an act of good faith, I can get you started on this path right now. What do you say? Have a seat.”
Augustin’s face did not so much as twitch. John swallowed. Moments passed in silence. John was about to try another dose of Memory Manipulation when the King finally moved towards John. He sat down on the chair that John had gestured to. Victory.
Twenty minutes later, Augustin was an immortal.
“Go fetch your generals or whoever’s in charge of the army,” John ushered. “I will show them two techniques to kill and block the enemy. Those people will then teach the rest of your army the same techniques, then w
e will go to conquer the continent.”
Augustin stood up, nodded, and left the room.
The operation continued all according to John’s plans. He soon met with Augustin’s generals and proceeded to teach five men. Unlike the previous kingdom, these generals were all of different height and build. They each wore uncoordinated armour and weapons. One person had a shield and a short sword, while another had two long swords. One even carried a halberd. The last two people had giant war hammers.
I will have to adjust both the striking technique and blocking technique I had planned. There’s a half-decent striking technique I learned from the Sword Sect that mortals can use with different weapons. As for the blocking technique, I have one but without weeks of training, it could damage the arm muscles. It’ll take some time, but we can accomplish our goal.
The best part is that these two techniques will have a 50/50 chance of winning against the techniques I’ve taught the Gaening Dynasty’s army. That means both armies will have trouble winning over the other. It could turn into a battle of numbers.
Hopefully, these two dynasties have millions of people in their armies. I can make them fight on equal grounds until they wear each other to the bone. If my luck is good, they could fight for years and kill millions of people from each dynasty. Adding to the assassins kill count, I might reach over 5 million sins a month!
Then I can go to Idera continent and do the same trick with the three kingdoms.
Over the next week, John taught the generals relentlessly. Things were going smoothly. It was time for the next phase of his plan.
He met Augustin inside his room again and used his Memory Manipulation’s Voice skill on him. He told the king that, until they destroyed Gaening Dynasty, he would not receive any resources to increase his immortality. He instructed Augustin to send his armies to attack as soon as the general finished teaching what they’d learned to the army.
“Your army will accept prisoners during the war and treat them well.” John could see his own reflection in the glossy eyes of the king. “When you own all the continent’s land, you will build an arena. You will then send the prisoners you’ve captured to fight against each other for your own pleasure. Offer immortality to anyone who wins 1,000 matches in a row. If there aren’t enough war prisoners to carry on, use all the prisoners who’ve committed any crime.”
